When he met with local government leaders in Scott County last week, Gov. Mark Dayton pledged his support for raising the 101 river crossing between Shakopee and Chanhassen and making it four lanes from the start of the project.

Dayton told leaders if the first $25 million came through, he’d be glad to work with legislators on the other $10 million. That $25 million is available in competitive metro bridge funds for flood mitigation. The winner of those funds will be selected in about two weeks.

Estimates show that raising Highway 101, along with improvements to the Highway 169 bridge, would cost nearly $31 million. The state’s current two-lane proposal would require a 12-month closure, but local authorities say it’s just another $6 million to widen the County Road 101 crossing to four lanes, which could possibly limit closures during road construction.